Niigata Set to Approve Restart of Japan’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant in Major Energy Shift 
Texas App Store Age Verification Law Blocked by Federal Judge in First Amendment Ruling 
Warner Bros Discovery Weighs Amended Paramount Skydance Bid as Netflix Takeover Battle Intensifies 
7-Eleven CEO Joe DePinto to Retire After Two Decades at the Helm 
South Korean Court Clears Korea Zinc’s $7.4 Billion U.S. Smelter Project, Shares Surge 
Waymo Plans Safety and Emergency Response Upgrades After San Francisco Robotaxi Disruptions 
DOJ Reaches Settlement With Blackstone’s LivCor Over Alleged Rent Price-Fixing 
BP Nears $10 Billion Castrol Stake Sale to Stonepeak 
Moore Threads Unveils New GPUs, Fuels Optimism Around China’s AI Chip Ambitions 
John Carreyrou Sues Major AI Firms Over Alleged Copyrighted Book Use in AI Training 
Novo Nordisk Stock Surges After FDA Approves Wegovy Pill for Weight Loss 
JPMorgan’s Top Large-Cap Pharma Stocks to Watch in 2026 
FTC Praises Instacart for Ending AI Pricing Tests After $60M Settlement 
Trump Signals Push for Lower Health Insurance Prices as ACA Premium Concerns Grow 
Bridgewater Associates Plans Major Employee Ownership Expansion in Milestone Year 
Mexico Antitrust Review of Viva Aerobus–Volaris Deal Signals Growth for Airline Sector 
FDA Approves Mitapivat for Anemia in Thalassemia Patients 
A high-profile BlackRock-backed bid to acquire a portfolio of global port assets, including strategically vital facilities linked to the Panama Canal, is reportedly at risk of collapse as negotiations face mounting pressure from China’s state-owned shipping giant Cosco. According to a recent Financial Times report, disagreements over ownership structure have emerged as a major obstacle, potentially derailing the multibillion-dollar transaction.
The proposed deal involves BlackRock partnering with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) to purchase port assets from Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison. These assets include ports located along the Panama Canal, one of the world’s most critical maritime trade corridors, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and handling a significant share of global shipping traffic. Control over such infrastructure carries major economic and geopolitical implications, making the deal closely watched by governments and investors alike.
Sources cited by the Financial Times claim that Cosco is demanding a majority stake in the transaction, a condition that BlackRock and MSC are reportedly unwilling to accept. If Cosco maintains its position, BlackRock and MSC are said to be considering walking away from the acquisition altogether. The report referenced three unnamed individuals familiar with the negotiations, highlighting the sensitivity of the talks.
When contacted by the Financial Times, BlackRock declined to comment on the situation, while CK Hutchison, MSC, Cosco, and China’s foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment. The lack of public statements has added to uncertainty surrounding the future of the deal.
The potential collapse of the agreement underscores the growing complexity of cross-border infrastructure investments, especially when they involve strategic assets such as ports and shipping routes. It also reflects rising geopolitical tensions and heightened scrutiny over foreign ownership of critical logistics infrastructure. As negotiations continue behind closed doors, market observers are closely monitoring whether the parties can reach a compromise or if the deal will ultimately fall apart, reshaping the global ports landscape.
